WASHINGTON — Searching for potential compromise, President Barack Obama is bringing the Republicans who run the House and Senate to the White House to try to hash out an agenda for his final year, even as his top legislative priorities appear to be losing steam.

Obama’s meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan today will be his first since the Wisconsin Republican took over more than three months ago, the long delay illustrating the lack of urgency for Obama in engaging with a Congress clearly resolved to wait him out.

Obama and Ryan planned a private lunch following a joint meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

As Ryan swept into the speakership in October, the White House was cautiously optimistic the policy-minded Republican, given a powerful mandate by his unruly caucus, might be able to work with Obama.

But with campaign season in full bloom, enticing Republicans to work with Obama on much of anything is becoming an increasingly arduous task.